Antibalas

I've been to a lot of concerts in the 3 years since I've returns to Atlanta, and Zap Mama & Antibalas is my new high watermark.

The music was powerful and vibrant, the show itself was beautiful to watch and experience with an overwhelming sense of raw fun and enjoyment being displayed by those on stage. The crowd was probably the best I've had the pleasure of being amongst (especially at Variety Playhouse).

Zap Mama's Marie Daulne is wildly charismatic and talented, and the other members were radiating with positive energy -- Manou's bass solo left me absolutely slackjawed. Antibalas provided bombastic sound and spirit that was the definition of infectious. When both acts share the stage, they truly embody the sentiment behind 'more than the sum of their parts'.

If you have the opportunity to watch either act, alone or ideally together, I *emphatically* recommend that you attend.

As a total Antibalas newbie, I had a blast from the first beat to the last. The 13-man Afro Pop band was in sync, entertaining and diverse with great stage presence. The lead singer set the tone by announcing he was a feminist, raised by a feminist. Given it was International Women’s Day, I immediately liked him. They told stories through their music and rhythms and nobody in the crowd could sit still. It was amazing to hear REAL trombone, trumpet and sax. The Bongo guy and sax player each performed an incredible solo and the singer had us singing along on many occasions. I loved their show and would definitely go see them again! In a heartbeat!

Awesome show. So happy i saw this band! I love their music from records, but the energy as a live act was not less than a great cherry on the pie. They played in a smaller venue of Paradiso in Amsterdam Noord. Good sound and not too big. Easy to see everything and hear everything and feel everything. Thank you Antibalas for coming to us here in Holland! We love you deeply and unconditionally!!